Peter Kelly

Peter D. Kelly III is counsel to Capitol Counsel LLC.  He advises clients on matters involving the California Congressional delegation and California politics.

Since 1985, he has worked at the California-based law firm he co-founded, Kelly Lytton & Vann LLP (the "Firm"), which he continues to manage to this day.  The Firm is a business law firm, and Kelly personally specializes in representing clients with problems with local, state, and federal governments with a particular emphasis in land use entitlements and government contracts. Prior to starting his own firm, Mr. Kelly was an associate and partner at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney. 

Kelly served as finance director of the California Democratic Party (1971-'72) and as chief of staff (1973-'76). Mr. Kelly served as state chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1983-85 and from 1987-89; and as Southern California chairman from 1981-83 and from 1985-87.  He was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1983-85 and again from 1987-89.  He served as finance chairman of the Carter/Mondale California Presidential Campaign, 1979-1980; Tom Bradley for Mayor, 1980-81; and as a member of the National Finance Board of Directors, Clinton/Gore '96.  Mr. Kelly was a member of the '92 and '98 Boxer for Senate Finance committees.  In 2001, Kelly was chairman of Friends of Jim Hahn, an independent expenditure committee.

After graduating from California State University at Fullerton in 1972 with a B.A. he attended Southwestern University School of Law receiving his J.D. in 1976.  He was admitted to the bar in California in 1977 and the District of Columbia in 1979.  While at Southwestern, he was the lead articles editor of the Law Review.

Mr. Kelly has served on numerous boards and commissions including the Los Angeles County Probation Commission, 1976-77; State Street Bank of California, 1985-89; Los Angeles City Attorney's Airport Committee, 1973; and the Los Angeles Central City Association, 1982-86.  Mr. Kelly presently serves as a member of the First African Methodist Episcopal Foundation Board (F.A.M.E.), the Saint John's Health Center Foundation Board and the Los Angeles County Board of Directors of the American Heart Association (“AHA”) where he was the chairman in 2005.  In 2001, Kelly was named California State University at Fullerton Alumnus of The Year.  Kelly also serves as a board member of the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation and is a trustee of Southwestern University School of Law.  In 2006, his colleagues named Kelly as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He has been widely published, is a lecturer on a wide variety of government and political matters, and frequently serves as a television commentator on political affairs.